Submersible vessel.



A. 1. F. LEE.

SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL.

APPUCATION HLED MAR. 8.1917.

-L22562.. Patented May s, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. 1. E. LEE.

SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL.

APPLlcAnoN FILED MAR. 8. 1911.

Patented May 8, 1917..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 cler. 6%

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SUBNIERSIBLE VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. I9II.

Patented May 8, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 ALBERT JOI-IN FREDERICK LEE, OF.WEST EALING, ENGLAND.

SUBIVIERSIBLE VESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May s, rait.

Application led March 8, 1917. Serial No. 153,452.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT JOHN Fannnaicii LEE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, formerly residing in Montreal, Canada, but at present residing in l/Vest Ealing, England, have invented certain new and uset'ul improvements Bel-ating to Submersible Vessels, ot' which the following is a specification.

rllie invention consists in a device which enables a vessel of .ordinary construction to be submerged below the surface to any required depth, while at the same time the upper decks and the upper parts of the sides of the vessel are surrounded by air. The submersion of the vessel can be effected at any time when it is deemed expedient, the depth of immersion can be rapidly and easily controlled, and the vessel can proceed under these conditions to her destination.

The vessel is submerged by the pressure exerted on a cushion of air contained between the vessel and an outer vessel which surrounds the submerged vessel both from above and on each side.

Means are provided according to the invention for readily passing from the vessel or the outer structure into the water through air and water locks and Jfor returning through the locks from the water.

The cushion of air inclosed between the vessels can be used as a reservoir of compressed air for the combustion of the fuel in oil driven engines, which may be placed in either vessel or both, but which are preterably contained in the outer vessel. The storage capacity of the air cushion in a vessel of moderate dimensions, having a length, for example, of 300 feet would be equivalent to about half a million cubic feet of air at atmospheric pressure. This supply can be maintained at an approximately constant pressure by compressors placed in the outer vessel and drawing in atmospheric airv by means of a suitably arranged pipe, raised or lowered as required.

The vessels could be propelled under all conditions by internal combustion engines and no auxiliary source of motive power, such as electric accumulators, would be required.

Guns of any required caliber could be mounted in the outer vessel and when in use could be raised in known manner on platforms by elevating gear to the level of the water; observation hoods can be similarly fitted.

The inner vessel can be utilized for storing cargo and munitions of any description and the outer vessel for the conveyance ot' men and cargo. rIlie accompanying drawings represent an example of a submersible vessel surrounded by a pro-tecting outer structure according to the invention.

Figure l is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a. longitudinal vertical section` of an air lock, and Fig. 4 an end elevation of the lock.

Figs. 5, 6, 6A and 7 show details ot' construction.

Referring to Figs. l and Q, A is a vessel submerged below the surface of the water, surrounded and protected by the vessel B of which the cross section amid ships is of the form shown in Fig. 2. At the stern ot the vessel B, gates a (Fig. 5) pivoted on vertical hinges are opened to admit the vessel A and at the same time the frame is turned about horizontal hinges c into the position shown in dotted lines. Vhen the vessel A has passed through the gates, they are closed and the frame is turned into the position shown by the full lines and bolted to the girders b. To allow the entrance ot the vessel A, the vessel B is lightened as far as required, and', if necessary, the draft o-l the vessel A increased by the temporary admission of water ballast. The outer vessel may be connected to the vessel housed within it by cables and preferably movable booms between the two vessels so as to maintain their relative positions; fenders (Z may be fitted at intervals along the inner surfaces of the vertical sides of B to lessen any shock due to accidental impact between the vessels. When the gates a are closed, the parts of the vessel A not immersed in water are surrounded on all sides by a cushion e of air. Y

ln order to immerse the vessels A and B at any time below the surface of the water the space inclosed by the vertical sides of the vessel B is divided into water-tight compartments, such as fl-f provided with hatches 'gf-g8. The immersion is eii'ected by opening valves in these compartments ments in the reverse order from that in which they were filled. As the outer vessel B descends, the compression exerted on the air cushion e will cause the vessel fr to doscend proportionately, and, comfcrsely, the two vessels will rise together.

If it is desired that the vessels should at any time remain at a certain depth below the surface, heavy weights, ordinarily housed in suitable recesses, may be payed out by cables passing around winches until they ground, when the increased buoyancy of the vessels will cause them to rise to a level which can be controlled by Winches h1 and 7b2; or anchors 7c and 7a2 can be let go and the vessels, lightened by the ejection of water ballast, allowed to rise to the required distance from the surface, or again, horizontal propellers may be provided to keep the vessel practically constant at the required depth.

rEhe air for the combustion of the fuel of the internal combustion engines 1, 2'2 is supplied to the engine room compartment directly from the air cushion c through valves which allow a steady pressure to be maintained, irrespective of any changes in the local conditions due to alterations of pressure in the air space,'or to fluctuations in the action of air compressors j, which are provided for various purposes.

In order to renew the air forming the cushion e, and to compensate for the amount used in the engines, 'a pipe Z is connected by a swivel water-tight joint at Z2 to a fixed casing Z3. The free end of the pipe Z carries a float Z1 and is bent as shown. Preferably, the pipe is branched into two parts above the flexible elbow at Z5, the two open ends being secured to the same float. A valve Z5 at the upper part of the casing Z5 is normally in the raised position shown in Fig. 6A, in which a catch Z7 connected by a cord Z6 to the valve Z5 engages over a valve Z8 at the bottom of the casing, opening upward. Should water enter the pipe Z through the open ends attached to the float Z1, thevalve Z5 turns yabout its hinge Z9 so as to close the casing as shown in Fig. (3, and at the same time the catch Z7 is released. Air in a pipe Zw which is connected to the pressure end of the compressors lifts the valve Z8, thereby returning the air to the compressor room and preventing the formation of a partial vacuum therein. The

valve Z5 can be opened by an extension Z11V ing under water that the exhaust gasesV Vshould be ejected in such a manner that there is not a constant stream of gaseous bubbles rising in the wake of the vessels and disclosing their path to the enemy. For this reason it has been previously proposed to lead the burnt gases into a reservoir from which they can be ejected automatically or by hand at irregular intervals of time.

In the present arrangement the burnt gases are led into a chamber D from which they are drawn by an air compressor and forced into an under water compartment D1 provided at the stern ofL the KYvessel l5 (Fig. 5).

When the pressure in the compartment D, has attained a given value a valve m on the side of the vessel B is automatically'opened and the gaseous mixture rapidly expelled from the compartment. According to the inventionfany water entering the compartment is forced out, after the valve m has automatically closed, through a bent bleed pipe a (Fig. 5) one end of which opens at the bottom of the compartment D1 and the other end dips under the surface of the water. A ball float valve of known type closes the lnlet to the pipe and prevents the escape of air or gas, if the water level in the compartment uncovers the mouth of the pipe, but leaves the inlet open, if the water level is above the inlet.

At 01, 02 are observation hoods, one of which is shown on a larger scale in Fig. 7.

rlhe hood 0l is provided with a hinged glass cover p and dead lights around its walls and can be elevated in the fixed casing g by suitable lifting gear Voperated by air or water pressure or mechanically. A door 1^ is arranged to give entrance to or exit from the hood through the doors fr, or r2 in the fixed casing y in yeither the elevated or lowered position of the hood. Should a sea be shipped when the cover p was in the raised position, as shown by the dotted lines,

closing the cover 10 opens a valve s, normally closed by a spring t and allows the water to escape and air to enter.

Guns may be mounted in larger hoods or turrets such as u which can be raised and lowered in the same way as thefsmaller hoods 01 or 02.

Gang ports o1, o2, Q15 are provided for removing cargo or stores from the outer vessel B or the inner vessel A. Y

Hatch covers are shown at fwl, 10 Iw (Fig. l) and at 105,- @v5 (Fig. 2).

Figs. 3 and 4 represent an arrangement of air locks provided inthe submersible vessel B, preferably at the bow as well as at the stern. The locks enable divers at any time to make examination cf the hull, to remove any chains or other impediments which may interfere with the action of the propeller and generally to facilitate the operations of a submarine vessel.

The lock is provided with doors and valves. ln order to pass from the interior of the vessel to the water outside, compartment Z is entered, door 7 is closed; valves 5 and G should be kept closed. l,When door 7 and valve l0 have been closed, sea coclr 9 should be opened slightly to allow the en tering water to slowly fill the compartment Z, valve is then shut and door S communicating with the sea opened.

lfn order to return to the vessel from the sca, compartment Z is entered, door S and sea cock 9 closed, valve l0 is opened and then valve -l is also opened, the air from the interior of the vessel entering as the water leaves through goose neck pipe ll into a well 1Q. A slight air pressure can, if necessary, be applied to the compartment through the valve 3. When the compartment Z is cleared of water, valve l0 is shut and the interior of the vessel gained through d-oor 7.

Suiiicient air must be supplied to the well l2 through valve 13 which is in communication with air pipes from the compressors to drive the water level below the mouth of the pipe 1l.

The system of air locks described has the advantage that the air forced into the compartments would in the operation of the lock be returned to the vessel, so that none, or but very little, would be wasted by escaping externally.

It is obvious that many of the mechanical details described in connection with the example illustrated may be varied without departing from the main features of the invention.

The vessel B would normally be on the surface of the water, but if there were any danger from hostile forces, it would be immersed until its upper surface was almost down to the water level, or, as shown in the drawings, submerged below it. The device would enable troops to be conveyed to an enemys shore or through a dangerous area v: ith great security.

The invention would also be of great assistance in the repair or salving of a sunken vessel.

In such cases the outer vessel B would be immersed so as to settle over and inclose the sunken vessel; operations could then be carried out to repair the vessel or by the attachment of chains and the like to raise it to the surface. rlhe workmen in the air space between the two vessels could carry out the necessary operations with comparative freedom and without the assistance of divers.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the best means l know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim l. A submersible vessel, the cross section f of which amidships has approximately the form of an inverted U, and a second vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating of the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air.

2. A submersible vessel, the cross section of which amidships has approximately the form of an inverted U, the limbs of which are divided into water-tight compartments, means for filling these compartments with water ballast and for emptying the ccmpartments, and a second vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating of the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air.

3. A submersible vessel, the cross section of which amidships has approximately the form of an inverted U, a second vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating of the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air, internal combustion engines provided in one of the said vessels for propulsion and means for supplying the engines with air for combustion from the air cushion between the vessels.

fl. A submersible vessel, the cross section of which amidships has approximately the form of an inverted U, a second vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating of the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air, air compressors for supplying air as required to the said air cushion and means for obtaining this supplementary supply of air from above the surface of the water.

5. A submersible vessel, the cross section of which amidships has approximately the form of an inverted U, a second vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating of the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air, air compressors for supplying air as required to the said air cushion, and a swiveling tube connected to a iioat resting on the surface of the water for obtaining this supplementary supply of air.

6. A submersible vessel, the cross section of which amidships has approximately the form of an inverted U, a second Vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating of the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air, air compressors for supplying air as required to the said air cushion, a swiveling tube connected to a float resting on the surface of the water for obtaining of Which amidships has approximately the "o Cil form of an inverted U, a second vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating of the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air, internal combustion engines provided in one of the said vessels for propulsion, and means for intermittently discharging the exhaust gases and for expelling any water which has entered the compartment in which the gases are collected, substantially as described.

8. A submersible vessel, the cross section of which amidships has approximately the form of an inverted U, a second vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating oi the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air, and gates at the stern of the submersible vessel for admitting the second vessel.

9. A submersible vessel, the Cross section of which amidships has approximately the form of an inverted U, a second vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating of the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air, and air and water locks in the said submersible vessel enabling a diver to have communication between the sea and the vessel. Y

l0. A submersible vessel, the cross section of which amidships has approximately the 'form of an inverted U, a second vessel housed between the sides and bottom plating of the outer vessel and separated from it by a cushion of air, air and water looks in the said submersible vessel enabling a diver to have communication between the sea and the vessel, and means for the ejection of water from the compartments of the lock adjacent to the sea, substantially as described.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT JOHN FREDERICK LEE.

Witnesses:

C. S. HoPKINs, WALTER J. HoRToN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C. 

